A.M. was charged with five criminal offences, including two counts of sexual assault, mischief, assault with a weapon (knife), and assault by strangulation, against the complainant C.J., with whom he had a long-term relationship and children.
The trial focused heavily on C.J.'s credibility and reliability, particularly given inconsistencies in her testimony and her attempts to recant charges due to cultural and family pressures.
The court found A.M. guilty of both sexual assault charges and assault by strangulation, while acquitting him of mischief and assault with a weapon due to insufficient evidence.
The judge emphasized that C.J.'s cultural background and attempts to protect A.M. did not diminish her credibility or the reliability of her core allegations, which were corroborated by a recorded conversation where A.M. pressured her to lie.